Cricket, there’s stonewalling and then there’s ….....

An opening batter in club cricket faced 137 balls for 0 not out in a bizarre match on Saturday.

Ian Bestwick helped Darley Abbey Cricket Club's 4th XI finish on 21-4 after 45 overs against Mickleover 3rd XI - 251 runs short of victory.

Both teams are at the bottom of the table in Division Nine south of the Derbyshire Cricket League.

Thomas Bestwick also contributed four from 71 balls - the runs all coming off one scoring shot - and Nicholas Cutting finished unbeaten on 0 from 34 balls, with nine extras contributing to the score.

Darley Abbey's innings was in response to Mickleover's 271-4 declared from 35 overs, with opener Max Thomson scoring a contrasting 186 from 128 balls with 17 fours and 14 sixes.

Mickleover took 18 points from the game while Darley Abbey were awarded three.

The home side posted on social media that opener Bestwick was bowled by Dan Heaton, who sent down 10 overs for just seven runs, but it was called a

 

How bizarre

 

Dead batting for a losing draw. Feel for the opposition after they posted 271.

 

always thought there should have been a video with him and Tavare batting together, insomniacs would have been all over it!"

Mind you I always thought it was ironic ( given some of the stick he got) that years after folk were crying out for somebody able to hold one end up and 'steady the ship'

 

I was surprised at the age of the opener to be honest. Scoring runs gets easier as you get older. I can't believe he didn't pick any bad balls and score himself some runs. Even in a losing draw self preservation would kick in at some point. Unless he's a 5 hite batsman.

 

Embarrassing, the guy should be ashamed of himself.